Retailer to give away backpacks to local students

The Kirksville Cellular Connection store will be part of a nationwide free backpack donation drive to help area children and families prepare for the new school year.

Retailers in the U.S. are joining to give away 60,000 donated backpacks through the School Rocks Backpack Giveaway initiative.

Locally, the Kirksville wireless retailer will be giving away backpacks August 3 from noon to 2 p.m. The backpacks will also be filled with other school supplies like pencils, paper, a pencil box, folders and glue.

Backpacks will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis at 1714 N. Baltimore St., with between 100 and 150 backpacks available. Any leftover packs will be donated to local schools.